WCU women keep rolling in 2013

WEST CHESTER – The new year has been good to the West Chester women hoopsters.

Just a shade above the break-even mark at the end of 2012, the Rams are a perfect 3-for-3 so far in 2013 after thumping Mercyhurst, 73-55, on Friday evening at Hollinger Fieldhouse. And head coach Deirdre Kane says it has at least a little bit to do with a few basketball-related resolutions she outlined for her players.

Sophomore reserve Kendall Benovy sure seemed to take it all to heart.

“We know we are capable of playing better than how we ended 2012,” the 6-foot forward said. “We feel like we have some redemption to do in 2013.”

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Benovy scored 12 of her career-high 18 points in the second half, and was a big reason the Rams had a 50-20 edge in scoring off the bench and a pronounced 42-18 scoring advantage in the paint.

“We are trying to get to the line more and we are trying to out-rebound our opponents, and we accomplished both of those,” explained WCU head coach Deirdre Kane.

“Getting to the free throw line entails not settling for threes, attacking the basket and getting the ball inside – and all of those are good things for us.”

In all, Kane played 13 players and a dozen wound up scoring. But nobody reached double figures except for Benovy, who was just about the most unlikely leading scorer imaginable. She missed the previous two outings with a sprained knee.

“Kendall is coming back from an injury and wasn’t even part of the game plan,” Kane admitted. “But (starter Ambreelinne Ortman) picks up two fouls, she steps in and plays extremely well. It’s a great lesson for our kids: you never know what is going to happen.”

It was game one of the final PSAC crossover weekend of the season. West Chester upped its record to 5-3 in the conference, 8-4 overall. Today’s clash with nationally-ranked Gannon will be the final tune-up before WCU opens the PSAC Eastern Division campaign next week versus Kutztown.

“If both our first and second units play well and we play two solid halves, we’re capable of upsetting a team like Gannon,” Kane said.

The Rams’ shooting percentage was abysmal in the early going and the Lakers raced out to a 12-7 advantage. But WCU seized the lead for good with 10-0 run -- including five points from Benovy -- and then expanded it to 31-19 at the break.

“I wasn’t actually expected to be in either (the first or second) unit, but that actually helped me mentally because I didn’t get my hopes up,” said Benovy. “They always say you never know when your time is going to come.”

Mercyhurst (3-4, 3-8) never got closer than 10 in the final 20 minutes and the lead topped out at 25 on several occasions. Senior star Alexandra Lennon chipped in nine points, hauled down a season-high 14 rebounds and added four blocks and four steals for West Chester.

Following the icy cold start, the Rams warmed up to shoot 56 percent from the floor in the second half. Benovy led the way, making all five of her second-period shots.

“This game was the first where I’ve seen us really utilize some things other than taking threes,” Benovy said. “The guards did an awesome job of feeding the post, which is a key thing we’ve worked on lately in practice.”

Let’s just say, with a little direction from its head coach, WCU was resolute.